From the
The National Speleological Society believes:
That caves have unique scientific, recreational, and scenic values; That these values are endangered by both carelessness and
intentional vandalism; That these values, once gone, cannot be recovered; and
that the responsibility for protecting caves must be assumed by those who study
and enjoy them.
Accordingly, the intention of the Society is
to work for the preservation of caves with a realistic policy supported by
effective programs for: the encouragement of self-discipline among cavers;
education and research concerning the causes and prevention of cave damage; and
special projects, including cooperation with other groups similarly dedicated
to the conservation of natural areas. Specifically:
All contents of a cave--formations, life,
and loose deposits--are significant for its enjoyment and interpretation.
Therefore, caving parties should leave a cave as they find it. They should
provide means for the removal of waste; limit marking to a few, small and
removable signs as are needed for surveys; and, especially, exercise extreme
care not to accidentally break or soil formations, disturb life forms or
unnecessarily increase the number of disfiguring paths through an area.
Scientific collection is professional,
selective and minimal. The collecting of mineral or biological material for
display purposes, including previously broken or dead specimens, is never
justified, as it encourages others to collect and destroys the interest of the
cave.
The Society encourages projects such as:
establishing cave preserves; placing entrance gates where appropriate; opposing
the sale of speleothems; supporting effective
protective measures; cleaning and restoring over-used caves; cooperating with
private cave owners by providing knowledge about their cave and assisting them
in protecting their cave and property from damage during cave visits; and
encouraging commercial cave owners to make use of their opportunity to aid the
public in understanding caves and the importance of their conservation.
Where there is reason to believe that
publication of cave locations will lead to vandalism before adequate protection
can be established, the Society will oppose such publication.
It is the duty of every Society member to
take personal responsibility for spreading a consciousness of the cave
conservation problem to each potential user of caves. Without this, the beauty
and value of our caves will not long remain with us.
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